Love at First Date Read Online Free PDF Page A

them.”
    “That’s big of you to take Chester to obedience school, but I have to say I think it’s a lost cause.” She paused, probably thinking the same thing I was. That George was a lost cause, too. “Well, I’d better get back to my desk. Have fun on your date.”
    “Thanks.” I waved to her, then turned to my computer, and pulled up the Detailed Dating website. A few keystrokes, plus the click of my mouse, and a picture of Craig displayed on the screen.
    He was a handsome man, for sure. Plus, we both liked skiing, boating, traveling, wanted at least two kids maybe three, had similar political views, and sounded compatible.
    So, why was I more into taking Rachel’s pampered pup to All Things Furry than a date I’d been screening for almost six weeks? Intense chemistry shouldn’t trump compatibility if I wanted a lasting relationship, which I did.
    I closed out the screen, drafted a message to our service department setting up Gilbert Watson’s appointment on Friday, and hit SEND so hard the key nearly broke.
    I would not make the same mistakes my mom had with my dad and pick a guy just because he made me go weak in the knees. No, I wanted a marriage that would last for life, which meant choosing a guy who makes the most sense logically. Tonight, I’d enjoy my first face-to-face —even if it killed me.
    ****
    I rapped my knuckles on Rachel’s apartment door half an hour before the Simply Skilled class started.
    Rachel’s front door flew open and she stared at me. “I got your message that you’re coming to pick Chester up. What gives?”
    “Nothing.” Since I couldn’t make sense of my irrational feelings, I so didn’t want to talk about them with her. “I just want to borrow your dog. Is that so wrong? Chester? Come here little poochie.”
    Rach blocked my path with her arm. “Last week you didn’t even know his name. I’m officially scared.”
    “Aha!” Her little maniac was curled up by the heating vent on a bone-shaped doggy bed. His big, brown eyes widened as I approached. “Auntie’s going to take you to obedience class. Yes, I am.”
    Rachel knelt down protectively over her dog. “This is about my going on a date with Dillon. Isn’t it? You’re feeling left out because Gina asked me instead and so you’ve snapped.”
    “Pfft. You think I want that six-one, surfing-dude who looks like he works out twelve hours a day? You can have him.” I brushed my hand through the air. “You know me, I’m not competitive.”
    “Says the girl who nearly took my hand off at the company picnic four and a half years ago.”
    “It was the last piece of cake and I saw it first,” I shot back. “Maybe I just want to teach your mutt some manners. Lest he try to munch on any more of my shoes.”
    “But,” Rachel stammered. “You hate dogs.”
    Remembering the way Kenzie had nuzzled up to her rescuer’s leg, my mouth dropped open indignantly. “I do not.”
    She stared at me and I stared back. She kept her eyes on mine and turned her head suspiciously. I mirrored her look.
    Then she gasped. “You met someone who signed up for this dog class. Didn’t you? Fess up.”
    My body froze. “No. I, uh . . .”
    “You are using my sweet baby as a man magnet!” She gestured toward Chester, who nearly jumped off his bone bed when she shouted.
    “For your information, I took your crazy woofer to the emergency vet yesterday because I thought he was dying!”
    Her face went white and she threw her hand over her heart. “What?”
    Oops. Wrong thing to say. “It wasn’t my fault, all right? He attacked my purse while I was heating up my dinner. He ate almost everything in it, including those new lip-glosses I bought at the mall the other day that the sales lady said went perfectly with my fair complexion.”
    “And he nearly died? You were supposed to be watching him.”
    “Funny story,” I said, though I seriously doubted she’d laugh. “I took him to All Things Furry and the vet wasn’t there